The Reason

Again, I do not own the song used in this chapter. It belongs to group Rascal Flatts.










"You call this a SMALL accident?" Tseng shouted in his ear. "What the hell happened?"

Vincent sighed, his eyes closed and said "It's not important. Can it be fixed or do I have to pay you for another one?"

Tseng looked to the mechanic, expectantly.

The man laughed, cutting off mid-haw when Tseng flashed him a murderous glare. He coughed and continued. "There's no way I can fix this. At the speed you were going when it hit, I'm surprised that there was any bike left to identify."

"Alright, I'll pay for another one. When can I have it?" Vincent
asked, turning back to Tseng.

"It'll take about one week to get it here, they're shipped in from Gongaga. I'll call you. Until then, you're on suspension until you feel like telling me what caused this!" He answered, pointing at the door.

Vincent sighed again and reluctantly left the new ShinRa building.


'I can't believe you're risking our job for THAT GIRL!' his brain said.

'I'M not risking MY job for ANYTHING. Tseng will get over it, he doesn't need to know what goes on in my personal life.'

His brain had no response to that. The only sound penetrating his mind was the solid laughter of his mischievous heart.



"Hi Tifa." Jexebel said, walking into the kitchen and pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"Good morning, Jex. How are you doing?" Tifa asked, concerned.

"I'm okay. I just . . . " she sighed. "Promise not to say anything to Vincent?"

Tifa just nodded, confused. Last night, Jexebel hadn't said anything about Vincent. She hadn't said anything at all, actually, just sat on her bed clutching a picture of her husband and sobbing into Tifa's chest.

"Okay. Well, last night, Vincent offered to take me to the wharf. He said it was beautiful and I would like it."

The surprises just kept coming. Vincent? Thinking ANYTHING is beautiful? Sheesh.


"We took his motorcycle, and, on the way there I asked how far it was to the wharf . . ." she paused, trying to find the right words. "He asked me to repeat the question, so I did, and when I leaned toward him . . . I don't know he just . . . smelled so good-don't smile It's not funny!" Jexebel said, angrily as Tifa's lips curled upwards slightly.

"Sorry, sorry. Continue."

"ANYWAY! When I asked him, I kind of . . . well my lips sort of . . . touched-his-ear-and-it-startled-him-and-he-crashed-the-bike!" she squealed, covering her face with her hands, embarrassed.

"Okay . . . that doesn't explain why you were so upset, though." Tifa said, still confused.

"Well, we kind of argued about whose fault it was, and whether or not I KISSED him, and I just kind of, ignored him for a while. Then, I went back to apologize and heard him talking to himself, and I got pissed. I told him . . . I'd show him a kiss and I . . . I kissed him."

Tifa's jaw fell off of her face. It bounced on the floor and rolled a ways.

"But that's not all. He kissed me back, and all I could think about was how good it was, and then I thought of Milo." Jexebel's voice wavered a bit, and Tifa looked up.

"Oh, Jexe-"

"I betrayed him! Milo would be so-how could I just-I'm such a bad person!" She leaned toward Tifa and the brunette wrapped her arms around her as she cried.

"Shhh, it's okay, Jexebel. Milo would want you to be happy. Just, think about it. Take some time for you. Don't do anything you're not ready for, but don't block people out. And you should probably let Vincent know that it wasn't his fault you freaked out. Cloud said he was upset pretty with himself last night."

"Oh and it's all my fault!" Jexebel wailed.

"Oh . . . shhh." Tifa said, rocking her back and forth.



Vincent stood outside the kitchen, a solemn expression covering his youthful features. Somehow, knowing why Jexebel had been so upset didn't make him feel any better.

Sure, it was nice to know that last night hadn't been his fault, but now be felt bad because Jexebel felt bad for making him feel bad.

He was so confused. He turned his attention back to Jexebel when he heard her speak again.


"I just feel so bad about . . . liking him. It's so soon . . . I feel like I'm just tossing Milo aside!"

"Honey," Tifa said, "if YOU like him, then you're ready. The only thing stopping you now is your mind. You don'[t have to FORGET Milo, but you don't have to spend your life alone for his memory. He would want you to be happy."

"Y-You think s-s-so?" Jexebel said between sobs.

"I do. You came here for a reason. You told me you came here to move on. So move on. I can't do it for you, but I can be here for you to talk to. Talk to Vincent. He seems to open up to you. He;s been through a lot, too. Maybe his success can help you with yours."


Vincent froze. Success? 'Talk to Vincent'? He went to his room with those words running through his mind.


The day was a long one for Jexebel. She thought a lot about what Tifa said. Maybe it WAS okay for her to move on. But what about Vincent? She did like him, but had she ruined any chance at all by pushing him away? Had she really even pushed him away? What did he think about her? Was it even worth it to try? Or was it a waste of time?

So many confusing thoughts! She had no idea that Vincent was in his room, and no idea that he had heard her conversation with Tifa that morning. She decided to get away from the bar for a little while, and do some exploring of her own.

She walked through the streets of Edge, breathing the cold fall air and allowing it to fill her body in an attempt to cleanse her. She ended up stopping in a small park with pretty yellow flowers blossoming in perfect patches throughout the grass. She sat down on a bench and stared into the bright pastel plants. Long moments passed without a single movement. One passing would have thought she was a statue keeping guard of the rare flowers.

Suddenly, she jumped to her feet and snapped her delicate fingers.

Music! Her music could help her!



{Later that night}

"Ladies and gentlemen! Please welcome Mrs. Jexebel Strange!" Tifa announced as Jexebel took her place on the stage. "She has a special gift for you tonight: A new song!" The crowd applauded loudly as soft music started to sing from the instruments behind her.

Vincent was making his way from his room to sneak into the kitchen when he heard her voice drifting through the hallway. He stopped and leaned against the wall, allowing himself to get lost in her wonderful aria.

"If I ever write the story of my life
Don't be surprised if you're where it begins
I'd have to dedicate every line on every page
To the memories we made, while you loved me

I was born the day you kissed me
And I died inside the night you left me
But I lived, oh how I lived
While you loved me

I'd start with chapter one, love innocent and young
As the morning sun on a new day
Even though I know the end, well I'd do it all again
cause I got a lifetime in, while you loved me

I was born the day you kissed me
And I died inside the night you left me
But I lived, oh how I lived
While you loved me

I was born the day you kissed me
And I died inside the night you left me
But I lived, oh how I lived
While you loved me . . ."


Vincent smiled softly, surprising himself yet again, and made his way to the kitchen, not really caring anymore if anyone saw him.


Jexebel finished out the night feeling light a huge weight had been lifted from her heart. She loved Milo, and she would never forget him . . . but he was gone and she was still alive. He WOULD want her to be happy. They had an amazing life together, and now it was Jexebel's turn to find her true place in the world.

Earlier that night, she had noticed Vincent making his way from the kitchen back upstairs. To his room, she imagined.

"Tifa, will you be alright if I head upstairs?" She asked, setting the glass she'd just dried in the cupboard.

"Yeah, I'll be fine! Go ahead, you need your rest. That was an awesome show tonight! I'll wake you up in the morning for breakfast, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks, Teef."

Jexebel walked up the stairs and to her room. She paused at her door, her hand on the knob. Slowly, she turned around and walked across the hallway to Vincent's door. She raised her hand and knocked softly.

There was a bit of rustling on the other side, and then Vincent's door opened. He looked at her, curiously.

"Hello, Vincent." She said, "Would you mind company for a while?"

'Tell her no, Valentine.' His brain said. His thinking organ was not given a chance to complain more as his heart reached up from his chest and punched his brain square in the . . . uh . . . face.

"Sure," He said warmly, "come on in. Would you like a cup of coffee?"